Faizel Patel, Radio Islam News, 2014-08-07

The City of Johannesburg says those illegally tampering with its power supply should prepare for jail time.

Johannesburg Mayor Parks Tau said thirty businesses are being investigated for alleged fraud and corruption relating to cable theft which has cost the city millions of rands in revenue.

Tau held a briefing in Braamfontein on Thursday on the latest developments around the city’s electricity woes.

He said after a yearlong investigation, R 107 million has been recovered and 22 people have been arrested on fraud related charges.

Those arrested include employees of City Power, the City of Johannesburg, external contractors and members of the public.

Some staff have been suspended, while others have resigned pending the investigations.

Cable theft and illegal electricity connections are causes of frustration for many communities countrywide including Lenasia.

“We’ve had a continuous problems in Lenasia. As a result of cable theft from the community in Thembelihle, they affect the community of extension 9 and 10 and that has caused problems and tension between the two communities,” said Tau.

“Last week we had an incident where the community of Thembelihle burnt down the mini sub-station because they wanted to connect illegally. We can’t encourage people to connect illegally,” added Tau.

Tau said he has been encouraged by the response received from the community of Lenasia extension 9 and 10 in how they can collectively deal with the problems they have encountered with theft.

The City of Johannesburg’s MMC for Infrastructure Matshidiso Mfikoe said she did engage with the Lenasia Active Citizen Action Committee.

“We had indicated that we taking through a report to the mayoral committee that is not necessarily focusing on Thembelihle but on all informal settlements.”

“We picked up a need for electrification of all informal settlements. The report is going through the necessary consultations; its at housing and planning, so that all of the role players in terms of provision of services have commented on the report,” said Mfikoe.

Mfikoe added: “In about a week or two we will be able to say to you and the communities of extension 9,10 & 11, we are bringing a solution to sort out the issues that are there.”

(Twitter: @Faizie143)